Friday 17/12/2021 – Friday 24/12/2021

This week was exactly what we needed as we enter the festive period for yet another year with restrictions and uncertainties. A reminder that fishing is an escape from the worries and stress that surround us in such unpredictable times! It was a week full of laughter, Christmas spirit, great sport, and p.b and fishery record-breaking fish!

For most of the week we have had flat calms, dreich weather, freezing cold temperatures and heavy fog, to some that would sound miserable, but it brought along with it so much hilarity! In the heaviest of fog anglers could not see the others on the opposite side of the water, nor could we see anyone from the cabin! Splashing could be heard, but it was unknown whether it was fish on, fish moving or anglers falling in! Cries of “big fish” could be heard, but all we could do initially was stand at the door and shout, “what side are you on? where are you?!” and run till we found the anglers with the bends in their rods or big fish in their nets! Anglers fishing with friends often had no idea how their friends were getting on, who was winning! Even though the anglers were cold, the fog brought so much fun and mystery with it!

The fish were caught at a variety of depths from the surface to 10ft down, and on a wide variety of techniques and flies from dries on a floating line, lures on a fast intermediate, to static under a sight indicator. For this time of the year, in such variable and cold conditions, the sport was exceptional, and only a few blanks were recorded.

We would like to take this time to thank you all for your support over the last year and wish you all a very merry Christmas and new year!

FISH OF THE WEEK –  This weeks top spot goes to JIM ANDERSON with his new P.B and fishery record, an incredible 18.4lb rainbow. Well done, Jim what a fish! You are this weeks winner of our winter big fish competition! Your free all-day c&r ticket and scrumptious steak pie awaits you!

FLIES OF THE WEEK – This weeks top 3 flies were BUZZERS, EGGS and SHIMMIES.

Other successful flies were cormorants, diawl bachs, bibio, Griffiths gnat, orange lures, hoppers, spiders, fabs, cats whiskers, apps, squirmies, blobs, humongous, Alex Ferguson, shammies, eggstacy caterpillar, Gerrards poodle, black poodle, daddies, bloodworms, double humpy, damsels, yellow dancers, stalking bugs, minkies, mop flies, grub imitations, cat bugs, millennium bugs, and yellow lures.

CATCH REPORT

  • GARY MCGUINLY – Safely returned 5 rainbows using buzzers on a floating line and eggs fished static under a sight indicator.
  • DEREK GRAHAM – Safely returned 2 rainbows including 1 weighing 8.4lb using buzzers and an orange nomad on a floating line.
  • TONY STEEN – He was getting nips and pulls but couldn’t get the fish to commit, he safely returned 1 rainbow using a buzzer fished static under a sight indicator.
  • GEOFF APPLETON – Safely returned 3 rainbows and a stunning wild brown weighing 1.5lb using hoppers and spiders on a floating line.
  • BILLY HOEHLE – Safely returned 2 rainbows caught using buzzers and diawl bachs on a floating line.
  • GORDON MCVICAR – The fish were teasing Gordon again and it looked like the blank was on, he finally managed 1 to the net using cormorants on a floating line.
  • STEVEN MCVICAR – Was chuffed to beat his dad, he safely returned 2 rainbows using an orange dancer on a floating line.
  • IAN DON – Safely returned 3 rainbows using buzzers and a pink fab on a floating line.
  • DAVE BOLAND – The travel up from the borders was well worth it! He safely returned 8 rainbows including a beauty weighing 13.9lb using diawl bachs, fabs and cats whiskers on a slow intermediate line.
  • CRAIG BROWN – Safely returned 8 using apps, diawl bachs, cormorants on floating and fast glass lines and an orange squirmy fished static under a sight indicator.
  • TONY MURRAY – Safely returned 4 using an orange fab, cormorants and cats whiskers on fast and slow intermediate lines.
  • FRANK DAILY – Safely returned 6 using tequila blobs, humongous and buzzers on a slow intermediate line.
  • BRIAN LAIDLAW – Weighed in 2 fish for 6.33lb caught using diawl bachs and a black and white apps on a floating line.
  • MIKE BLACKWOOD – Safely returned 4 rainbows caught using eggs fished static under a sight indicator.
  • LAWRENCE MCDONALD – Safely returned 1 rainbow using buzzers on an intermediate line.
  • BRIAN MCCLUCKIE – Safely returned 3 rainbows including a beauty weighing 14.2lb that made his arms hurt, using an Alex Ferguson and olive apps on an intermediate line.
  • JOHN MCGAUGHEY – Safely returned 7 rainbows using yellow eggs and shammies fished static under a sight indicator.
  • CHICK MGREEVY – Safely returned 2 rainbows including his new p.b weighing 13.1lb using an eggstacy caterpillar fished static under a sight indicator.
  • GARY SNEDDON – Safely returned 2 rainbows caught using buzzers on a floating line.
  • TAM BROGGAN – Caught the winning fish against Gary with his very last cast, he safely returned 3 rainbows caught using Gerrards poodle and a black poodle on a floating line.
  • RONNY TURNBULL – Safely returned 2 rainbows caught using a daddy and a bloodworm on a sink tip line.
  • JIMMY MILLER – Safely returned 2 rainbows caught using a double humpy on a sink tip line.
  • ECK KYLE – Weighed In 3 rainbows for 7.65lb and safely returned 2 using a cheese egg fished static under a sight indicator and an orange blob on a sink tip line.
  • JOHNNY PORTEOUS – Had a day he will never forget with 2 fish for 22.9lb including his new p.b weighing 14.4lb using a yellow egg fished static under a sight indicator.
  • SANDY KIRKWOOD – “The offers I was getting was incredible” He safely returned 1 4lb rainbow using a damsel on a floating line.
  • DOMINIC HIGGINS – Weighed in 1 rainbow for 3lb using a yellow dancer on a midge tip line.
  • GRANT TENNANT – “I did what I do best, kept dropping the fish” He weighed in 2 rainbows for 4.33lb using a yellow dancer on an intermediate line.
  • CHRIS LUCAS – “Thank you for a brilliant day!” He safely returned 6 rainbows using buzzers on a floating line and shammies fished static under a sight indicator.
  • FRANK DONNELLY – Was struggling till Chris told him what to put on, so Chris is claiming his fish lol.
  • PAUL DOIG – Safely returned 3 rainbows using fabs on a floating line and eggs and stalking bugs fished static under a sight indicator.
  • SCOTT MATHESON – Travelled from the borders and was not disappointed, he safely returned 3 rainbows including 1 weighing 10.2lb using buzzers on a floating line.
  • NATHAN JOHNSTON – Safely returned 2 rainbows caught using bloodworms and mojito mop fished static under a sight indicator.
  • EDDIE HUNT – Weighed in 1 rainbow for 2.5lb caught using an orange buzzer on a floating line.
  • GREG HOWE – The larger Burnhouse rainbows really cause Greg a lot of heartache, on his last visit he lost a very large double and, on this visit, he lost another! 3rd time lucky Greg! He safely returned 3 rainbows caught using pink eggs and green shimmies fished static under a sight indicator.
  • RYAN GIBSON – Safely returned 5 rainbows including 1 weighing 10.5lb using eggs and shimmies fished static under a sight indicator.
  • JIM ANDERSON – Safely returned 4 rainbows including his new p.b and new fishery record weighing 18.4lb using a viva blob, pink squirmy and yellow lure all on a floating line.
  • WULLIE CARR – Safely returned 2 rainbows caught using cormorants and hoppers on a floating line.
  • DONALD FORBES – Safely returned 1 rainbow caught using buzzers on a floating line.
  • TRACY ALLAN – Was delighted to catch her first brown, a beauty weighing 3.4lb.
  • JAMIE MCRAE – Safely returned 1 rainbow caught using a pink mop fly fished static under a sight indicator.
  • DREW MILLAR – Safely returned 7 rainbows including 1 weighing 12.10lb using shammies and cat bugs fished static under a sight indicator.
  • IAN MILLAR – Even though his fingers were freezing, and the weather was miserable Ian enjoyed his first visit to Burnhouse, he safely returned 3 rainbows including a beauty weighing 8lb using buzzers on a floating line and eggs fished static under a sight indicator.
  • HUGH RANKIN & CAMPBELL BAILLIE – This weeks battle between the 2 friends ended on a 2-2 draw, both caught their fish using orange dancers on a floating line.
  • EDDIE HUNT – Weighed in2 rainbows for 6.14lb and safely returned 3 using buzzers and a green blob on a floating line.
  • GARY SNEDDON – Well and truly beat Tam, he safely returned 3 rainbows using cats whiskers and millennium bugs on a floating line. Tam practiced his long-distance catch and release!
  • SCOTT WALKER – Safely returned 3 rainbows using his old faithful grub imitation.
  • STEVIE PLANK – Safely returned 5 rainbows caught using fabs, minkies and buzzers on a floating line.
  • MICHAEL WARD – Safely returned 2 rainbows and a wild brown using a damsel on a floating line.
  • NICKY CAPAVANNI – Safely returned 3 rainbows using yellow eggs fished static under a sight indicator.
  • RYAN GEMMELL – Safely returned 4 rainbows caught using eggs fished static under a sight indicator.
  • GREG HOWE – Safely returned 6 rainbows in his short visit using shimmies and eggs fished static under a sight indicator.
  • GEORGE BROWNLEE – Safely returned 3 rainbows using shimmies and eggs fished static under a sight indicator.
  • BILLY HOEHLE – Safely returned 3 rainbows caught using diawl bachs, cormorants and a yellow dancer on a floating line.
  • BRIAN SKINNER – Safely returned 7 rainbows caught using eggs and shimmies fished static under a sight indicator.
  • ALAN SMITH – Safely returned 5 rainbows including 1 weighing 9lb using bibios, a Griffiths gnat and a zonker on a slow intermediate line.
  • THE BUZZER KING – Donald Forbes, safely returned 5 rainbows and a wild brown straight lining buzzers.
  • SAMMY TOMINEY – Weighed in 1 rainbow for 2.58lb using a yellow dancer on a floating line.
  • WULLIE CARR – Safely returned 3 rainbows caught using hoppers and a yellow blob o a floating line.
  • MARK HALL – Safely returned 4 rainbows including 1 weighing 11.4lb using cormorants and an Ally McCoist on an intermediate line. “I don’t know what you feed these fish but that just wouldn’t come in!” He needed a rest after the double figure rainbow.
  • JOHNNY PORTEOUS – Safely returned 3 rainbows caught using the cheese shimmy he tied the night before.
  • BRIAN JACK – Safely returned 4 rainbows using a green egg and green shimmy fished static under a sight indicator.
  • ANDY RICHMOND – Safely returned 11 rainbows including 1 weighing 8lb using shimmies, eggs and stalking bugs fished static under a sight indicator.

 

COVID-19 precautions – please read:

 

  • We are operating a strict booking in only policy. This allows us to limit the number of anglers arriving, using our facilities, and fishing our water. Please phone 07949220511 or 07889603160 to book your space.
  • If you feel unwell or show any symptoms of COVID-19 and cannot do a lateral flow test please cancel your booking, do not take any chances.
  • We will be issuing tickets from the door of the lodge.
  • Refreshments are still available; gloves and masks will be worn by staff and strict hygiene standards implemented during the handling.
  • ALL anglers MUST use the hand sanitising station before approaching the door, this is located on the wall to the right of the door. The station will be cleaned after every use. Disposable gloves are also available for anyone who wishes that extra bit of protection.
  • Card is the preferred payment option; however cash will still be accepted, we ask that our anglers bring the exact money to avoid change being given. All ticket prices can be found on our website or upon request on telephone enquiries.
  • Masks must be worn in the cabin and no more than 2 anglers in at one time.
  • Toilets will be cleaned on a regular basis, though we ask that anglers use the antibacterial wipes and toilet brushes available to clean up after their own use. There is hand sanitiser and hand wash in both toilets.
  • Please adhere to all social distancing guidelines in place.

We would hate for anything to be traced back to our beloved sport, so let us work together to keep it as safe as possible for all participants.

 

FISHERY RULES

  • FLY FISHING ONLY
  • NO LITTERING. ALL RUBBISH, CIGARETTE ENDS AND USED LINES MUST GO IN THE BINS PROVIDED.
  • BARBLESS HOOKS ONLY, NO DOUBLE OR TREBLE HOOKS
  • EVERY TICKET ENTITLES ANGLERS TO FISH ONLY 1 ROD AT A TIME
  • NO SET LINES
  • NO BOOBIES, DOUBLE HOOK SNAKES OR SPIN FLIES
  • A MAXIMUM OF 3 FLIES TO BE FISHED AT 1 TIME
  • NO LURES FISHED STATIC UNDER A SIGHT INDICATOR
  • NO SPLIT SHOTS OR WEIGHTS
  • GROUND BAITING, THE USE OF BAITS AND SCENTED DIPS ARE STRICTLY FORBIDDEN
  • ALL FISH OVER 8LB, TIGERS AND BROWNS MUST GO BACK, UNLESS IN POOR CONDITION. THE DECISION TO KILL THESE FISH MUST ONLY BE MADE BY THE BAILLIFF
  • BAG LIMITS ARE ACHIEVED FROM THE FIRST FISH CAUGHT, NO SELECTIVE KILLING. FISH MUST BE KILLED IMMEDIATELY AND SHOULD NEVER BE KEPT ALIVE IN KEEP NETS UNTIL THE END OF THE SESSION.
  • ALL RETURNS MUST BE RECORDED WITH THE BAILLIFF BEFORE DEPATURE, EVEN IF IT’S A BLANK.
  • ANGLERS MUST NOT AID OTHERS TO ACHIEVE THEIR BAG LIMITS
  • CATCH AND RELEASE ANGLERS ARE NOT PERMITTED TO KILL FISH, KILL TICKETS MUST BE PURCHASED BEFORE FISHING.
  • WHEN FISHING CATCH AND RELEASE THE FISH MUST BE KEPT IN THE WATER AT ALL TIMES.
  • IF ANGLERS FIND THEMSELVES ON A HOT SPOT, PLEASE MOVE ON AFTER 5 FISH
  • THE BAILLIFF RESERVES THE RIGHT TO PERFORM BAG CHECKS

ANYONE FOUND TO BE IN BREACH OF THESE RULES WILL BE ASKED TO LEAVE, NO REFUND WILL BE ISSUED AND NO RETURN VISITS WILL BE ACCEPTED.

 

SAFE CATCH AND RELEASE PROCEDURE

  • Only use single, barbless hooks. Strictly no multiple hook snakes, double or treble hooks. Not just for catch and release but for kill tickets too.
  • Due to the size and strength of our fish we ask that ALL anglers use a minimum of 8lb line, this is to reduce the number of fish being lost and over played.
  • Bring the fish to the net as quickly as possible. Over playing a fish causes stress and exhaustion and decreases the chance of survival.
  • Unhook the fish as quickly as possible, keep the fish in the water. Never bring the fish onto the banking or podiums as this removes the protective slime, increasing the chances of infections and diseases.
  • If you have to handle the fish do so with wet hands, never with gloves on, this avoids removing the protective slime.
  • If the hook is too deep to be removed, cut the line as close to the hook as possible.
  • Avoid squeezing the fish as this can cause damage to internal organs.
  • Take time to recover the fish, be patient as this can take some time especially in warmer weather. Support it gently until the fish is strong enough to swim away from you.

If you are struggling to recover a fish please call the bailiff for assistance, the decision to kill any fish whilst on catch and release must only be made by the bailiff.

 Thank you to all of the anglers this week, we look forward to seeing you again!

 TIGHT LINES FOR THE WEEK AHEAD!